What Really Matters: Everyday Spirituality
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© Karen Wyatt
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Dr. Karen Wyatt shares the life wisdom she learned from her hospice patients as they faced their last days. Learn how to navigate life's challenges and become your best self in the process as Karen shares what she's learning from day to day on her own journey. You'll discover tools, practices, wisdom, and stories to help you figure out what really matters in your own life.
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War is unfolding in many parts of the world right now, yet for many of us life continues largely unchanged.In this episode I reflect on the difference between how earlier generations experienced war—especially during World War II—and the distance many of us feel from today’s conflicts.Drawing on a story from my father’s experience in the war, I explore how we might remain present to the suffering of others without becoming overwhelmed or turning away.I also invite listeners to consider creating a simple Sunday evening vigil—a moment to pause, light a candle, and hold the people of the world in compassion.Download the Sunday Evening Vigil Learn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
This episode is a companion for my latest post on Substack which you'll find a link to below. Many of us are reaching a stage in life where it is important to begin cultivating our life's wisdom in order to move into the role of an elder for our society. Read about that on the post first and then listen to this episode which includes practices for becoming an elder:Set aside time every day for reflection or journalingLovingkindness BlessingLetting go ritualsSlowing downPractice recording storiesEmbrace physical changesCultivate humorSee yourself as a mentorLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this brief episode I'm sharing with you my own experience of the spiritual realm and the afterlife since many people have wondered whether or not I "believe" the afterlife exists. This episode includes:Childhood experiences of the spiritual realmWhy I don't "believe" in heaven or hell but instead have an inner knowing of the spiritual realm that we already always exist withinHow deathbed experiences and visions with hospice patients were part of my inner knowingWhy I don't fear death Learn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I share with you a powerful tool that we all need right now: The Lovingkindness Blessing. You can use this every day to transform your life and relationships - the world is starving for lovingkindness right now so I hope you will give this practice a try! This episode includes:The power of tiny acts of kindnessMetta as a Buddhist practiceHow I began to use The Lovingkindness BlessingThe 5 components of the blessingDownload The Lovingkindness BlessingLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I'm sharing my own up and down journey of learning how to step forward with love in this world where hatred surrounds us. This episode includes:My desire to not add to the burden of hatred the world is already bearingHow the March for Peace by Buddhist monks inspired me this weekWhy we need to stay motivated by love even during times of fear, anger, dismayWhat fierce love really means and why it's not soft or weakThe Milgram Experiment and what it tells us about our human natureLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I talk about the horrific state of affairs in the world and especially here in the US where we are confronted on a daily basis with violence, hatred, and inhumanity. We are awake now to the reality of the dark side of human nature and though we feel change is coming we don't know how long it will take. This episode includes:Societal change takes time - we have to be in it for the long haulEvery little step makes a differenceFind a reason to stay hopeful and grateful every day rather than falling into despairKeep working on your own shadowBe creative in your own unique way every dayLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
This episode is a post-illness reflection on what happens when all our plans and aspirations get waylaid and we end up getting nowhere that we had planned to be. It includes:How my end of year plans got upendedA metaphor of going NOWHERE on a forlorn highwayWhy nowhere is exactly the right place to be (Now Here in fact)How inspiration arises when the ego runs out of certaintyWhy this matters during the holiday seasonLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I discuss "immortality projects" - a term coined by Ernest Becker to describe the ego's efforts to escape the fear of death. This episode includes:What type of "projects" the ego creates to hide from deathThe cost of denying deathWhy denying death makes us vulnerable to cults, conspiracy theories, and manipulationWhy we need to awaken to our Higher Selves, our witnessing and observing selves, and help the ego surrender to our own higher wisdomWhy even "death work" can be an immortality project for the egoLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
Today I'm sharing Thich Nhat Hahn's 4 elements of true love, which is a Buddhist perspective on love that I find valuable. This episode includes:Loving-kindness: May you be truly wellCompassion: Your pain is not separate from mineJoy: Your joy is my joyEquanimity/Freedom: Love that doesn't possess or controlLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I talk about the timing of delivering bad news and the experience of carrying that bad news until the moment it can be shared. This episode includes:The weight of carrying bad newsThe divine timing that sometimes asks us to waitWhy pausing is a survival skill in our current hurry-up societyHow synchronicity can occur when we slow down and allow for pausesThe value of saying Not Just YetLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I'll share insights from my recent Substack post on the metaphor of the butterfly life cycle and why as a society we are in a "chrysalis phase" right now. This episode includes:The need for grief rituals - both individual and collective - as we navigate this time of dissolutionWhy forgiveness is an essential part of grief workWhy each of us must find our own unique form of creativity to bring to the worldHow to protect what is new and fragileRecognizing other "imaginal cells" in order to collaborateLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
This episode is Part 2 on the mini-series on dealing with the fear of death. Today we look again at the 5 doorways of exploring death and I share verses from The Tao of Death that can help us contemplate the deeper meaning of each doorway. The episode includes:Why we need to go within to learn about our fear of deathHow to "die before we die" by releasing ego attachmentsWhy we must learn to live in the present moment rather than the imagined futureConnecting to something larger than ourselvesSpeaking and connecting to others about our fears of deathLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I share some thoughts from ChatGPT along with my own about how to deal with our innate fear of death. Next week I'll continue with this topic and share some wisdom from The Tao of Death but first we begin with a deep dive into death. This episode incudes:What if we dive beneath the fear of death instead of trying to rise above itLook beneath the fearLearn to die before you diePractice presenceConnect to something largerSpeak the fear aloudLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I share how to use the Disney film Frozen 2--which I've been watching on repeat with my 3 year old granddaughter--as a catalyst for conversations about loss and grief. Here are some tips for using the film and a discussion guide you can download for your own family movie night. This episode include:Frozen 2's backstory of griefElsa's Hero's Journey in the film and what we learn from itAnna's journey through overwhelming grief and how to talk about itTeaching moments for familiesHow to talk with children after the movieGet the discussion guide hereLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I share how my own grieving process was helped by experiencing the visible evidence of mourning I encountered when traveling through Italy (as written in Wild and Holy). This episode includes:How grief is visible in Italy but repressed and hidden here in the USThe cost of repressed grief to our emotions and physical bodyHow shared grief can be healingThe connectedness we can experience through grief is needed in our society to heal our divisionsHow to make our own grief more visibleHow to help others share their grief more comfortablyPlease check out the Kickstarter campaign for my new book Wild and Holy!!Learn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In today's brief episode I share some thoughts about how my travels through Italy revealed to me that grief is a powerful source of creativity if we face it directly. This episode highlights the poetry of Andrea Gibson, whose journey through cancer sparked luminous creativity in the midst of grief. This episode includes:How grief breaks us open to allow creativity to emergeGrief becomes fertile ground for creative ideas to flourishHow grief can become a medicine, as described in Andrea Gibson's poetryGrief as a transformational fire that burns away what doesn't matterHow grief ultimately connects us will all humanity and creativity can create a ripple effect of hope and innovationPlease check out the Kickstarter campaign for my new book Wild and Holy!!Learn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this special episode I’m sharing with you the Introduction to my new book Wild and Holy! I hope you enjoy listening to this brief excerpt and that you’ll consider backing the Kickstarter campaign where you can receive many wonderful bonuses for your support. Wild and Holy has been named a “Project We Love” by Kickstarter, which is an amazing honor I’m happy to receive. Check it out and reserve your copy – available now only through Kickstarter!Go to this link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2136452733/wild-and-holyThanks in advance if you choose to support the campaign!
Today I'm sharing a personal practice I've used to clear my own energy field when I'm faced with tense and challenging relationships. With all the polarization and hatred present in our society right now we need tools like this to help us find peace and reconciliation wherever possible. This episode includes:The sacred Hawaiian practice of Ho'oponoponoHow taking responsibility for our own energy and issues can help us find healing in our relationships, even remotelyThe power of asking What if it's all me?Why we need to challenge the ego to let go of its attachment to being right (which makes everyone else wrong)Please check out the Kickstarter campaign for my new book Wild and Holy!!Learn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I share my experience of having grief return to me in a sudden, unexpected wave like a long-dormant volcano erupting. This event is the subject of my new book Wild and Holy, which is launching on Kickstarter this week. This episode includes:What is the second wave of grief and why does it happenHow hidden grief may return when we are strong enough to navigate itHow grief and guilt can be stored in the physical body and somatic therapies may be neededHow society exerts pressure to move on from grief and adds to shame and guilt over prolonge or recurrent griefHow to navigate your own second wave of griefSign up for the Wild and Holy Kickstarter pageLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
In this episode I will share my own personal journey of healing for the heart condition I was unexpectedly diagnosed with last year. This story has a rather miraculous conclusion so listen to the end! This episode includes:How I began a healing journey for body, mind, and spirit after learning that my heart condition was quite seriousHow I created a "Heart Journal" and used journaling practices to explore my own ShadowWhy I renamed my own heart conditionHow I was led to start focusing on griefWhat inspired the writing of the book Wild and HolySign up for the Wild and Holy Kickstarter prelaunch pageLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here
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